Robert Sain named executive director of Mobile's Centre for the Living Arts

Robert Sain, new executive director of the nonprofit Centre for the Living Arts in Mobile, Ala., at Space 301 on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. (Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)

MOBILE, Alabama — Robert Sain will join the nonprofit Centre for the Living Arts on March 1 as executive director, according to a CLA news release.

Sain’s selection comes after a national search for someone to lead the organization that operates Space 301, a contemporary art gallery, and the historic Saenger Theatre.

“What a special time in my career, to return to my Southern roots and to develop the Centre for the Living Arts into a major contemporary arts center for the Southeast,” Sain says. “My obsession is community engagement through the arts and this is a terrific moment to demonstrate how the visual and performing arts can be a resource for improving the quality life in Mobile and the Gulf Coast region.”

Sain grew up in Atlanta and received his Bachelors of Arts in European History from Emory University. Before entering the museum field, he worked in planning, evaluation and community relations for the Atlanta Southside Comprehensive Health Center serving a low-income population.

Most recently he was executive director of Montalvo Arts Center, a multi-arts organization offering visual and performing arts, in Silicon Valley, Calif.

Before that he was founding director of LACMALab at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where he created one of the most innovative artists’ spaces for all ages and commissioned major artists to engage the community through participatory projects.

He also served for many years as the executive director of the Children’s Museum/Museo de los Niños in San Diego.

Sain emerged as a leader in the arts world by serving as the first development director for Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minn., and then launched the first development office for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He is on the faculty of Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.

Sain has been engaged as a guest curator, consultant and lecturer at prestigious organizations such as the Getty Museum, the Auckland Museum, and Skirball Cultural Center.

“He brings with him years of experience and expertise,” says Mike Rogers, chairman of the Centre for the Living Arts board and the director search committee.

“I cannot wait to begin working with Bob,. He brings the knowledge and experience of a true arts leader and a real love of visual and performing arts that will allow us to grow and secure the future of the CLA in the years ahead.

"In our first meeting with Bob, I realized that this was the type of leadership that our founder, Palmer Bedsole, was looking for; he is a visionary like Palmer.”

“His record of performance and his references are just outstanding,” says board member Jason Guynes, chairman of the Department of Visual Arts at the University of South Alabama.

“He is extraordinarily respected in the contemporary art world and has a wealth of knowledge about the field. Bob is very creative and has an extensive background in both the visual and performing arts and in management of arts organizations.”

Sain was selected after a nationwide search conducted with the assistance of Arts Consulting Group, a firm with offices across the United States and Canada.

“We are thrilled that Bob wanted to come to Mobile,” says CLA board member Jim Cox. “His background in contemporary art, arts management and arts programming will serve the Centre extremely well. He already loves our community and is excited about what he can bring to the Saenger Theatre and Space 301.

"Bob recognizes the momentum that Mobile has and sees the potential that CLA has to be a major force in the region. ”

Board member Meg McGovern says the search committee, which included board members, staff, and community leadership, “worked tirelessly to ensure a rigorous process.”

The mission is to provide opportunities for the development of interest and participation in the visual and performing arts by the general public. The vision is to create a pivotal contemporary arts center in the Southeast that supports the production and presentation of artists’ work in all disciplines with the goal of community engagement.

For information on programming at Centre for the Living Arts, visit the Web site: www.centreforthelivingarts.com; or call Linda Mayson at 251-208-5660.

Arts Consulting Group (www.artsconsulting.com) is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, fundraising and marketing consulting, program and facilities planning and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry.

ACG has offices throughout the United States with consultants in communities across North America.